On previous collections Putumayo has explored upbeat Arabic pop and dance music (Arabic Groove and North African Groove) and laid-back Arabic electronica (Sahara Lounge) With Acoustic Arabia Putumayo turns its attention to the more organic traditional styles that are the foundation of these musical genres With their stripped-down arrangements and softer more introspective quality the songs on Acoustic Arabia highlight the fundamental beauty of the music of the Middle East and North Africa This collection features an intriguing roster of artists including several international stars and exciting new discoveries Each musician has a fascinating life story that brings added depth to their music One of the best-known featured artists is Algerian singer-songwriter Souad Massi whose contemplative songs address social and political issues and were banned by the conservative government Maurice El Medioni a world-renowned Jewish piano legend from Oran Algeria first began performing alongside Arab musicians during the golden age of the Algerian music halls of the 1940s and 50s and is still tickling the ivories as an octogenarian The band Tiris hails from Western Sahara and is made up of refugees who have been part of the struggle to reclaim their homeland from Morocco which now controls the region The gentle emotion and entrancing melodies of the songs featured on Acoustic Arabia will help listeners deepen their appreciation for the rich music of this part of the world A portion of Putumayos proceeds from the sale of this CD will be donated to the Sa?d Foundation in support of its efforts to bring positive and lasting change to the lives of children and young people in the Middle East
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